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ACROSS

Retail

Portrait: MPC Properties

EXPERIENCE BEATS SPACE: HOW RETAIL PROPERTIES CAN ONCE AGAIN BECOME PLACES OF RELEVANCE AND COMMUNITY

In an age in which digital dominates and foot traffic is harder to attract, retail spaces are being reimagined not just as places to shop, but as platforms for experience, education, and emotional connection. In her latest piece, Pınar Yalçınkaya, CEO of MPC Properties, explores how AI, sustainability, and creative activations are helping transform shopping centers across Serbia into vibrant hubs of relevance. From beekeeper suits and dinosaur replicas to podcast stages and robots that greet you by name, MPC is proving that future-proof retail is less about space and more about meaning.

credit: iStock

Convenience set to drive Retail Winners in 2025

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, convenience is emerging as the key driver of success. Shoppers are increasingly drawn to brands that make buying products a quick and effortless experience, whether online or in-store. GlobalData’s latest research highlights which retailers are likely to gain the most in 2025

credit: Westfield

Gropius Passagen, Berlin acquired by Hayfin

Berlin’s largest shopping centre, Gropius Passagen has just been acquired by Hayfin from Nuveen and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The centre is a highly important retail destination in Neukölln, Berlin, Germany, with an approximately 95.000 sqm lettable space, around 150 tenants.

credit: Avison Young

Retail Parks Everywhere? – Polish Investment Market Report by Avison Young

Poland’s retail parks have grown from outskirts experiments in the 1990s to over 290 large hubs nationwide. Changing consumer habits and investor confidence are turning them into versatile destinations beyond just convenience shopping. Investment market report created by Avison Young allow details insights into major trends through a comprehensive analysis.

credit: MEC

“IF YOU WANT TO SHAPE THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF THINGS”

MEC’s new Business & Project Development department underscores its commitment to the future of retail real estate. Instead of pure administration, the focus is now on holistic location development – strategic, practical, and market-oriented. Head of the unit, Jörg Wege, explains how vision meets everyday business, why hands-on expertise matters, and how this drives MEC’s growth.

credit: InformaBTL

New leader on the Spanish Grocery Scene: Mercadona soars

Recent calculations reveal that Mercadona has achieved significant success in the first eight months of 2025, taking the lead in the grocery sector of Spain. Capturing larger shopping baskets as well as a higher shopper penetration, are the main reasons behind Mercadona’s success.

credit: BIG CEE

BIG Čačak by BIG CEE officially opened its Doors

Serbia’s first lifestyle retail park, BIG Čačak, is now officially welcoming customers with 45 new stores and 500 parking spaces, offering a unique experience that combines shopping, gastronomy, and leisure.

credit: Dan Dalton / Getty Images - Caiaimage

Discounters Remain Top Choice across All Generations

A recent pan-European study shows that hard discounters like Aldi and Lidl continue to dominate grocery shopping preferences, and that their appeal reigns across different age groups, from Gen Z to retirees.

credit: Lidl

Lidl reports struggles with Expansion in Belgium

The international discounter is facing challenges in the region, as Lidl Belgium did not generate profit the previous year. To correct and enhance their financial results, the company plans on addressing the issue, investigating the main cause for failure.

NIQ Geomarketing study: European retail in 2024 and 2025

The share of private consumption allocated to retail – rather than savings, services, or leisure – continues to decline across the European Union. In 2024, this trend persisted for the third consecutive year, with EU citizens spending just 32.6 percent of their disposable income in retail. Croatia recorded the highest share, with nearly every second euro spent in retail. These insights come from a new, free study published today by NIQ Geomarketing, offering a comprehensive overview of retail trends across Europe.

credit: SES

Strong Partnerships require a Paradigm Shift in Thinking

The world of retail real estate is revolving faster than ever before: Consumer behavior is changing rapidly, brands are disappearing overnight, and digitalization and shifting values are forcing us to rethink the way we do things. In order to survive, you need more than just square footage; you need a deep understanding of retailers, customers, and social developments. That is why Spar and SES are committed to building genuine partnerships – on an equal footing, with flexibility, innovative strength, and shared responsibility for success.

credit: Ingka Centres

The Power of Collaboration

In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital Ingka Centres believes the future lies in real-world connection. Through a bold mix of play, purpose, and partnership, Ingka Centres is transforming retail destinations into inclusive, experience-driven Meeting Places.

credit: SmartGifty

When Shopping Becomes an Experience: Smart Retail Destinations

Retail and tourism are merging, as malls transform into destinations where visitors seek experiences, not just products. From Dubai Mall to Mall of America, the world’s shopping centers are reinventing themselves with entertainment, digital services, and personalized journeys. With innovations like SmartGifty, even regional players such as BTC City Ljubljana are proving how digital gift cards, loyalty programs, and smart platforms can turn retail hubs into tourist magnets. The future of shopping is experiential, digital, and sustainable. And it’s already here.

credit: Foot Locker

DICK’S finalizes $2.4 billion Foot Locker takeover

DICK’S Sporting Goods has completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Foot Locker, emerging as a new global sports retail leader. The deal is set to strengthen DICK’S presence across North American, European, Asian and Australian regions, as well as retaining Foot Locker and its family of brands, including Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and atmos.

credit: Mitja Kobal/CC Real

CC REAL: FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE CONTAINER IN ZAGREB TO AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER IN RETAIL REAL ESTATE

The Vienna-based company CC Real is today among the most significant, albeit so far relatively low-profile, players in the European retail real estate market. In an interview with ACROSS, founders Fabian Kaufmann and Sven Vorih, describe the journey from their beginnings in Croatia to their current expansion strategies in Europe and Australia. The discussion covers experiences in times of crisis, strategic partnerships, refurbishment successes, and the question of why CC Real still firmly believes in the future of retail.

CEO PERSPECTIVES 2025 – When the Tenant Thrives, the Asset Flies
What will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this special, we asked leading figures in the European retail real estate sector what they see as the most significant current challenges, as well as the solutions needed, for retail assets not just to survive but to prosper.
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